Children from around the city came out to the Boston Public Library to support 22 kids competing for a chance to take part in the national spelling bee later this year.

Christy Jestin, 12, of West Roxbury took first place after spelling “contiguous” correctly. He will be going to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May. Sarah Knotts, a 12-year-old from Boston, came in second.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh congratulated the children, adding they were all winners regardless of the outcome.

Boston Centers for Youth and Families spokeswoman Sandy Holden said the atmosphere at the spelling bee was similar to the atmosphere at a playoff game for the Red Sox.

“When you get down to the finals, everyone is cheering, even the kids who have been eliminated,” Holden said.